This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

Monday, June 22, 2009

The most delicious of all is that which was forwarded to us this afternoon by a devoted supporter of the Mayor. Though I can not actually link this to being official Villaraigosa spin (it did not come from his office) the following treatise compares Mayor Villaraigosa to legendary New York Mayor Fiorello LaGurdia.

LaGuardia was a hard nosed Republican who lead New York during the Depression and through the end of World War II. He fought the mob, brought jobs to his city and was a middle class hero. Called "The Little Flower" one of the most notable actions of LaGuardia was during a newspaper strike he read the Sunday funnies to children over the radio. Of course, one of New York's major airports was named after him.

So knowing that, you may find the following very rich, while you think of Villaraigosa rattling around Getty House this evening like Norma Desmond.

The La Guardia-Villaraigosa Bond

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa just announced today that he is not running for Governor of California, it's a loss for what would've been a colorful, fun and ultimately successful campaign for Governor by Villaraigosa. But his decision not to run says something about the man who has carefully studied another big-city Mayor, Fiorello H. La Guardia.

If you've ever spent more than 5 minutes with Villaraigosa (watching him nightly on your newscast doesn't count) you would know that our current Mayor of LA, is a student of Mayor La Guardia more than any Mayor in America

Both were firsts, La Guardia New Yorks first Italian-American Mayor and Villaraigosa Los Angeles's first Mexican-American Mayor.(during the modern era)

La Guardia's term was during and post the Great Depression and so too will Villaraigosa's term be with what many historians say is the worst financial situation since the depression.

Both were big on law enforcement.

La Guardia's first call to action was the arrest Lucky Luciano and Villaraigosa's first large budget fight was to increase the LAPD to its highest of highs.

Both crafted strong ethical regimes.

La Guardia ran on an anti-corruption ticket and looked to clean up the ethics of New York, Villaraigosa's first Executive Mayoral order was to require ethics pledges from every city commissioner and staffer in his office. Even going so far to hire an Ethics Czar in attorney Tom Saenz who still brings a clear vision of transparency to City Hall.

La Guardia represented East Harlem while in Congress before becoming Mayor, Villaraigosa represented East LA in the Assembly before becoming Mayor.

The only major difference between the two men is party, La Guardia was a Republican who acted like a Democrat with his support for the New Deal and Villaraigosa is a Democrat who acted like a Republican when he crossed a union picket line (EAA), increased the LAPD (more than a real republican Riordan could ever do) and went against the ACLU in cracking down on crime in downtown LA.

But Villaraigosa relishes his role as Mayor -- anyone who is born and raised here can attest to this City's wonderful attributes. Where in the world can you get some wonderful Galbi in Koreatown for lunch and then eat some equisite Ethopian food for Dinner, a city as diverse as LA can only be a wish come true for anyone who cares about public policy and the plight of the voiceless.

La Guardia was the same way in New York, he rejected immigration quotas, was elected with strong Jewish backing and fell in love all over again with the City he represented. La Guardia's mantra was jobs, jobs, jobs and people of all races loved him for that -- Villaraigosa supports comprehensive immigration reform, has strong jewish backing (see this months Jewish Journal), with a call for jobs, jobs and more jobs (see Measure R-Subway to the Sea) and while some local demagogues may wince, Los Angeles is a City Villaraigosa loves and you can see the evidence every time you see his thousand watt smile.

If you actually ever studied the democratic primary turnout - you would've seen it was for Villaraigosa to take and if you can add up to 4, you'd see that a Democrat (any democrat) will beat any Republican during the general election come November 2010. Villaraigosa knew that, his political team knew that, but its not good enough to be a "good Mayor" Villaraigosa has his sights on being a "Great Mayor".

52 Comments:

Anonymous said:

Kudos to you Michael for this post. Not only are you a great political writer. You constantly surprise me at the way you can step aside, set aside your political affiliations, and so brilliantly sum up a situation where the outcome doesn't fit with your own politics. Hats off to you sir.

The mayor may not have accomplished what he set out to do but he was too ambitious for one thing. He should have included middle class schools in his program, not just the worst ones where ironically the parents and teachers didn't even want him or the tens of millions he threw at them with his philanthropic friends?(What does that say about them, though?)

But who cares what Phil Jennerjones has to say -- a guy who wears a suit and stands next to a flag in his own photo op but has nowhere gainful to go after he shows up at Council daily for his annoying public comments? Where he uses our taxpayer time to run for mayor like that other nobody nutjob (who keeps promising to quit his blog and this earthly realm only to come back in the next post more boastful and nastier than ever). WHO CARES WHAT YOU OR ZUMA DOPE THINK PHIL!

Steve Lopez is an obnoxious little man with a power complex -- when his own power went out a year or two back he called Eric Garcetti and demanded personal attention!

His nasty little pointless piece coming on top of TWO negative ones from the Times yesterday are over the top in their desperate attempt to get the support of the rightwing who flood their comments sections these days at the urging of the rightwing talk show hosts.OK but who are they offering us instead? Just a lot of hot air.

I love Antonio. He should just fire Robin and forget about that nasty, horrible Riordan era now. Go back to his roots. And he was not a gangbanger ever. Where do you get this stuff? I know people who went to high school and college with him so I'm thinking I would have heard that rumor before.

6:52PM One person says he was not a gang banger. OMG! We must stop now and believe you, since you sound so sincere. Nice to know he went to high school too. Thanks, for a minute there I was actually worried.

Have you ever seen his tattoo that says "born to raise hell?" the one he says he got while he was a gang banger?

And it's not just for lack of staff -- they censor comments at the Times if the writer doesn't like them. Zahniser does it all the time too.

They're such pussies, most of those prima dona reporters and "columnists." Put them behind a keyboard and the legal staff of a paper and they sling shite all day long but they can't take even a little bit back, they're pussies like a certain mayoral candidate says about others. (Him being like these "reporters" however.)

That write up made me want to puke. What kiss ass wrote that? The writer talks about LA's wonderful and varied food. The Mayor wouldn't know because he doesn't even eat in LA.

People need to stop calling Antonio a Mexican American. He isn't. He was born here so he's a chicano. And he doesn't want to have anything to do with Mexicans or Chicanos. He wants to hang with wealthy white businessmen, dine in fancy restaurants, drink expensive wine and eat foie gras. He even lightened his portrait so he'll look white.

The word "ethics" and the name "Antonio Villaraigosa" should not be in the same sentence. For the promise of a nice campaign contribution you can buy any job in the City from the Mayor himself. Anyone ever wonder why the Mayor kept Ed Boks on as the head of Animal Services after all his mistakes, failures and lawsuits? Because he was offered money to hire him. He was offered campaign contributions for his run for Governor. When the billionaire backed out of the deal he dropped Boks like a hot potato. That's why he finally fired him

Antonio is very insecure. He was (is?) a short poor Mexican kid. He wanted money, fancy cars, nice clothes, hot white women and respect. He got into politics to rub noses with wealthy developers and other things with hot young reporters. He hates the job but loves the perks, could never pass the bar so he's not qualified to do anything else. He hates the public but loves the wealthy guys offering him money for favors. He doesn't give a hoot about LA.

Yeah, you're welcome that I ran for maypr only in March and am going to serve the term I was elected for. That a very high ethical standard, don't you know. I could have chosen to run for governor, so you are welcome that I decided to follow through on the job I ran for only three months ago. You're welcome.

So Phil Genderjob can tell Higby to delete this post because "the 9% Mayor" isn't worth it, but he himself who's done nothing in his life except show up daily at public comment wasting our time in his one good suit, attacking everybody there and on this blog, tells off someone at 6:47 for giving their opinion.

You, zooma, Walter Moore, are all the same. Maybe you should all go out and DO something for once, run for and win even an NC election and serve on the board for a while, before you presume to run for Mayor and act like the biggest egotistical idiots on the planet.

Even Walter Moore who did the best whines that he should have been coronated based on NO experience whatsoever, because "Experience Sucks" was the motto this year. So why not the homeless vagrant, the unemployed clown in a suit, the pothead, the 22-year-old whose claim to fame is liking taco trucks -- oh, right, they ARE the ones who felt they should win, too!

WHAT have things come to, when the "real" media are no longer serving any interest but their own, and yet kooks like these run for office and expect to be taken seriously? ONCE AGAIN PHIL NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU SAY OR THINK~~

Okay, so I just listened to the entire video of "Don't cry for me..." LOL!!! I thought I knew the song and just the tought of it is pretty funny, but listening to the words and the tone cannot beat a mere memory of it. Very, very entertaining, how appropriate.

How dare Villaraigosa use his daughter as an excuse wanting to spend time with her for not running. Is that the best Matt Szabo can do spinning? Villaraigosa didn't think of any of his kids while he was off having an affair with Mirthala. He humiliated and embarrassed his family to the entire nation. He is pure scum to say he wants to spend time with them now.

M.....r. Villaraigosa, the former speaker of California's Assembly, has also hinted he has other plans. Earlier this month, he was elected second vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The position puts him in line to be president of the association in 2011.

Off-hand quote of the day re: AV's decision, from TV "personality" Jillian Barbaerie this a.m. (after a clip of Villaraigosa saying he was "excited" about the challenge of continuing to lead L.A.). . .

"Really? He looks totally bummed!"

AND, he did - stuck in a job he's already been justifiable branded a "FAILURE" at, he looked like he was tired, bored, and just going through the motions. . . sitting out this big wave and hoping that one last one comes his way while he still has the poltical stamina to get to his feet and ride it to his next date with ADD destiny.

Jerry Brown is going to wipe the floor little pretty Gavin Newsom. The statement by Gavin is going to haunt him. It shows how naive and ignorant he is to be aligned with damaged goods Antonio. Brown has a very strong Latino base in Calif. Gavin just hired an illegal loving new Chief Gascon who is BFF with Antonio and loves the illegals. That will also hurt him. Call Newsom and tell him he's a dumb ass......As a fellow big-city mayor, over the past four years I have gotten to know and respect Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He is a dedicated public servant who is making a difference for the people of Los Angeles every day. His leadership is valuable to the people of California and the nation, regardless of the office he chooses to hold. His life story is an inspiration to millions of Californians and especially to Latinos everywhere. I look forward to continuing to work with him, sharing our experiences as mayors, and collaborating on innovative solutions that will take California in a new direction. As Mayor Villaraigosa has said so eloquently recently, state government needs to change and I believe we can work together to make that a reality.

This comparison sounds like a high school assignment. Picking and choosing the "equivalents" to come up with what result? The idea that Tony would have fit fine into NY politics?

You don't have to look far to see which comments come from the Villaraigosa loyalists, truly loyal to a politician in the face of facts calling for changing horses.

Yes, that "little precious" reference was over the top in insincerity. If there were better poll numbers for Tony you can bet that she would be hearing from dad by emails... and those would probably be written up by an aide.

Excellent. I like Jimmy Blackman. He's ready now. It's time for Robin to move it on and Jimmy will be able to get the old LA-loving Antonio to do what they all know he should have been doing the last 4 years. Jimmy will get all the white valley voters back to the side of Antonio just like he did before. The last 4 years would have been much better for the mayor if Jimmy had been making more decisions than Robin. It's Robin and her decisions that made the city turn on the mayor.

So I'm wishing hard. I'll wish on a star. I'll cross my fingers and wish. I'll even pray. I'll throw some change into a water fountain. Whatever people do to try and get wishes fulfilled is what I'll do to wish Robin away.

Why is Walter Moore still imposing his opinions on the radio. He spent over $300,000 on the election and wasn't even able to force a run off with the unpopular mayor. Like Jack Weiss, Walter was his own worst enemy. He easily should have been able to force a run off for all his money and all the free radio promotion he was getting. But too many people said there was no way they were voting for a mean, stubborn guy like that. The more that people got to know him, the more people who sadly felt they couldn't support a divisive whiner like Mr. Moore.

And now, he has been reduced to nothing more than a guy calling into radio shows to complain and demagouge and point fingers.

I don't hear anything intelligent coming out of his mouth. Just cute little rants. The loss of dignity isn't over his loss as much as his behavior since.

He's becoming more than just an embarassment to the grass roots movement.

I like Mayor Villaraiogsa because he reminds me of Mayor La Guardia from New York who was a good, good mayor and who fought corruption. I see many comparisons. And you gotta admire the mayor after reading it. It all makes such perfect sense. How did I not see it sooner. I think we have been too hard on the little bugger. Maybe we can start a Villaraigosa For Governor "write in" campaign.

compare him to a crook a fool a joke a gang leader an illegal lover an undercover prejudice coward and lets face it he is SHORT with all the problems that go with it. What does his parents think mine would be embarassed and would probably dis own me

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to be in Sacramento Wednesday for the second time in three weeks, joining fellow mayors in an attempt to convince legislators not to take gas tax revenues intended for cities to solve the state's budget problems.

Tom Bradley Terminal will soon be renamed the Villaraigosa Terminal in recognition of our Msyor's support of LAWA and its goals, including moving the North runway 400 yars further North and re-aligning the Westchester Parkway/Lincoln Boulevard.

No one may remember who Tom Bradley was (and those who do choose to see him through rose-colored glasses) but no one can pronounce Villaraigosa.

Even the female CNN commenter when he announced he wasn't running stumbled all over it. Only on this blog and in the Latino community is his combined name an advantage. If he was just Villar it would be easy to pronounce and remember at least. Even if in Spanish the two l's are supposed to be a y, like Pancho Villa.

Maybe he should think about that as he tries to rebrand himself toward a future run for Senate.